Phonograph record feeding means and method



J. A. FERN 9 PHONOGRAPH RECORD FEEDING MEANS AND MBTHQD April 2, 1935.

Filed April 1'1. 1950 '9 Shets-Sheet 1 Ap i $1935. J. A. FERN 1,996,412

PHONOGRAPH RECORD FEEDING MEANS AND METHOD Filed April 1'7, 1930 9 Sheets-Sheet 2 4 jnzrenfaz 70k; CA/ em XX/ 2 12655 .1. A. FERN 1,96,412

PHONOGRAPH RECORD FEEDING MEANS AND METHOD April 2', 19 5,

Filed April 17, 1930 9 Sheets-Sheet 5 April 2, $36

J. A. FERN PHONOGRAPH RECORD FEEDING MEANS AND METHOD Filed A ril 17, 1930 9 Sheets-Sheet 4 I znzreni'n Jo7zn Q Fern April 2, 1935. J. FERN PHONOGRAPH RECORD FEEDINGMEANS AND METHOD Filed April 17, 1930 9 Sheets-Shet 5 um i mfi Q Nu Eu 9 J fi J m 6 vN 0 1m m l 4 mm bm \N m QM. l .mvmv

ZnUeZZZQz April 2, 1935. J. A. FERN 1,996,412

PHONOGRA PH RECORD FEEDING MEANS AND METHOD Filed A pril 11. 1950 9 Sheets-Sheet 6 m fifl HH W s V /l 1% V Q I 1 Znzrerzior John CZ. Fern April 2, 1935. N 1,996,412

PHONOGRAPH RECORD FEEDING MEANS AND METHOD w Filed April 17, 1930 9 Sheets- Sheet '1 zrzzferzzor John a Fern April 2,

1935. J. A. F\ERN PHONOGRAPH RECORD FEEDINGMEANS AND METHOD Filed Apfil 17, 1930 9 Sheets-Sheet 8 7722/6320:- John d-rerrz April 2, 1935. J. A. FERN 1,

- PHONOGRAPH RECORD FEEDING "BANS AND METHOD med A in 11, 1 30 9 Shee ts ,-Sheet 9 (70 7 m dw erm.

Patented Apr. 2, 1935 EsTS PATEN '7 oFFi-c-E I PHONOGBAPH nnooan rnanmo MEANS AND METHOD John A. Fern, Chicago, Ill., assignor, by direct and mesne assignments, to J. P. Seeburg-Corporation, Chicago, 111.,

a corporation of Illinois Application April 17, 1930, Serial No. 444,965

20 Claims. (Cl. 274-40)v This invention relates to a method of and mechanism for feeding phonograph records from a group to playing position and returning them to their position in the group after they have been played.

The object oi the invention broadly is to utilize the action of gravity to effect the transfer oi'the records to and from the group, and to provide means for handling the records in a manner that subjects them to the action of gravity for this pu p A further object is to provide a magazine for the group of records and automatic means by which the records will be removed. individually from the magazine, transferred to playing position in the phonograph table, and then returned to the magazine, my object being further to provide a machine of this character which will accomplish these results with respect to successive records in'the magazine or with respect to any record or records selected to be played.

A further object is to utilize the action of gravity in transferring the records to and from the magazine and thereby eliminate entirely the use of any mechanical gripping or holding de-" vices for moving the individual records through their several movement's.

, A further object is to provide a mechanismot the above characteristics, which is-simple and rugged and involves few operating partsin its construction, and is comparatively inexpensive to manufacture.

. Other objects of the invention will appear hereinafter.

Referring to the accompanying drawings in which one embodiment of the invention is shown:

Fig. l is a view in front elevation of a phonograph record feeding mechanism, embodying the invention;

Fig. 2 is a view in rear elevation of the structure shown in Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is an enlarged view in front elevation o the chute or guideway in its lowered position and a portion of the record magazine;

Fig. 3a is a detail of the retaining finger restoring means;

Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 3, but taken from the rear of the machine;

Fig. 5 is an enlarged plan view of the portion of the structure shown in Fig. 3, showing a record in playing position on the rotary table;

Fig. 6 is an enlarged transverse vertical section of the record magazine substantially on the line 6-6 of Fig.1;

Fig. 7 is a vertical view of the record magazine substantially onthe staggered line 'I-l of Fig. 6, showing part of the structure in section and part in elevation; g i

Fig. 8 is an enlarged detail plan of the rear side of the magazine showing the clutch in oper-' 5 ative relation to the guideway and the magazine;

Fig. 9 is a fragmentary detail elevation of the mechanism shown in Fig. 8;

Fig. 10 is an enlarged detail vertical section on .the line Ill-l9 of Fig. 8;

. Fig. 11 is a detail horizontal section on the line Il--ll of Fig. 9; i I

Fig. 12 is a transverse vertical section on the, line l2-l2 of 'Fig. 5, through the frame of the v machine and the record on the table, and show- 15 ing thereproducing device and the controlling switch mechanism operated thereby;

Fig.'13 is a view looking down upon the controlling switch shown in Fig. 12, showing the re- 7 producer arm in relation thereto, but omitting 20 the reproducer lifting lever for the sake of clearness;

Fig. 14 is a view similar to Fig. 13, showing the parts in a different operative relation;

Figs. 15, 16, 17, and 18 are diagrammatic views .showing the relation-of the chute or guideway, the record magazine, and the record retaining and releasing means in diiferent stages of operation; and

Fig. 19 is a diagram of the electrical circuit connecting the controlling switch and motors.

The machine illustrated in the drawings is designed to storea plurality of phonograph records of the flat circular disc type in a carrier or magazine, and to individually cessively to the playing positionofa. phonograph and remove the recordafter it has been played, restoring it to its original place in the magazine. These operations are all brought about automatically in proper timed relation, 40 but the action ofgravity is utilized in moving r the record from its position in the magazine to words, the machine, having once been started in 45.

operation by the closing of the switch either by hand or by coin-controlled mechanism of any well known typ will automatically complete a cycle of operation which consists in selecting the next record to be played, feeding that record to playing position, removing the record from playing position when ithas finished playing, and returning it to itsoriginal place in the magazine. During this cycle of operation, the reproducing device is automatically placed on the record at 5 feed theserecords suc- 35 ing position ready for the next cycle of operation, the reproducing device serving at the end of its movement across the face of the record to automatically start the mechanism in operation for restoring the reproducing mechanism and returning of the record to the magazine.

The disc records A are carried in a rotary magazine H with their planes in radial relation to the axis of rotation of this magazine, as shown more clearly in Figs. 1 to 'l'. The magazine comprises, in general, two large wheels l, arranged in parallel and spaced apart a sufficient distance to accommodate the diameter of the records. These wheels are fastened on a horizontal shaft 2 which is journaled in the upper ends of frame uprights .3 disposed outside at the front and rear of the magazine, so that the carrier or magazine rotates in a vertical plane.

The frame uprights 3 are mounted on top of the table 4! of a suitable frame 5. Beneath the table is mounted an electric motor 6 fordriving the mechanism, Figs. 1 and 2. This motor has a pinion l on its shaft, which drives a. large spur gear 8 journaled in suitable hearings in the frame. The inner faces of the magazine wheels have a plurality of pairs of instanding ribs 9, Figs. 5, 6, and fl, which form 'betweenthem slots or channels it! for holding the records by engaging the diametrically opposite edges of said records.

These slots It are radially disposed and are of sufficient size to permit the records toslide freely in and out thereof. The shaft 2 of the magazine has a sleeve 2a which serves as an inner stop for the records, the sleeve being preferably e of felt or other suitable cushioning material. The outer ends of the magazine slots are open so that the records can leave the slots and re-enter them in radial relation-thereto and in the plane'of themselves. The records are releasably held in position in the magazine by retaining fingers H which are in the form of small levers individual to each record and pivotedat it on the inner side of the front magazine wheel I. The outer ends of the fingers have upturned portions M which normally engage the edges of the records to hold the records in their respective slots. The inner ends i5 of the fingers are outwardly turned which engage an actuating stop in their path for the purpose of swinging the outer'ends I4 of the fingers out of or into engagement with the records at the proper time to release the records from the magazine H or re-engage the records as they are returned to the magazine.

The playing position is represented by the rotary phonograph table C which is mounted in horizontal position in the frame 5 of the machine adjacent the magazine. This phonograph table and ltsdriving motor 0' may be of any standard or wll known type and need not be further described, except to say that it has a central upstanding centering pin l6 which engages the central hole I! of the usual or standard record. The motor C is electrically.operated.,. The start- A ing and stopping of this motor and the phono- The playing table C is mounted lower than the magazine and is positioned at one side thereof in the plane of rotation of the magazine, so that the records when released from the magazine will move or discharge from the magazine by gravity. A movable chute or guideway B is arranged to direct the moving record from the magazine to the playing position on the phonograph table. This chute is arranged to swing vertically in the plane of rotation of the magazine. The chute comprises in general two parallelly disposed arms 28 rigidly connected at their outer ends by a cross member 2i and provided at their inner ends with bearings 22 which are journaled on the magazine shaft 2. Thus the chute swings vertically in the plane of the magazine and in concentric relation thereto. The inner faces of the arms 20 are spaced apart a distance substantially equal to the bottoms of corresponding opposed sluts in the magazine so that the records will move freely in the chute and still be prevented from lateral movement. Guide rails 23 are mounted along the inside of the arms 20, being spaced from said arms by the spacers 26, for supporting the moving records on their upper edge, these upper edges being below the edges of the arms 20. The inner end of the chute begins slightly beyond the periphery of the'magazine wheels I, and, in the course of the operation of the machine is registered with the slots iii.

The outer end of the chute extends sufficiently beyond the transverse center line of the playing table so as to properly support a record'while it is being placed on or removed from the table.

Asshown more clearly in Figs. 3, c andv 5, the chute swings down to a position with its outer end below the plane of the table, so that after having deposited the record on the table it leaves the record free to bei'otated by said table. On account of the fact that in the discharging position the plane of the record is in angular relation to the horizontal plane of the playing table, the chute is curved accordingly. Thus, the inner portion of the chute adjacent the magazine is disposed in substantially the plane of a record in the magazine, while the outer end portion of the chute is arranged at such an angle that when the chute is in its lowered position this outer portion will be substantially horizontal and parallel with the plane of the playing table. A record leaving its position in the magazine will travel into the chute by gravity in the plane of itself until itis entire- 1y clear of the magazine. Its movement then follows the curved path of the chute until it reaches the outer end portion of the chute and is placed on the table C in substantially horizontal position.

The chute is swung through the range of movement between its upper and lower positions by the motor -6, hereinbefore described. The arm 20 on the rear side of the machine has an extension 25 from its hub 22 and this extension is pivotally connected to a link 26 which extends to a crank connection 21 with the large gear 8. The front arm 20 has a similar extension 28 to which a spring 29. is connected, the spring being anchored as shown in Fig. 1 to the frame, for balancing the weight of the chute.

The record magazine and the chute are interlocked for simultaneous movement during a portion of the cycle of operation and disconnected for movement independent of the chute plished by an automatic clutching device lotion of the record in the magazine. The pins are adapted to be engaged by a notched clutch member 3| carried on the end of an arm 32 which is fastened to a block 83 rotatable on the stud as on arm 20. The notched clutch membar can be swunginto and out of engagement with the pins 30. The clutch member is yieldingly held in the path of the pins 30 by a spring 35. The upper and lower edges-36 are curved to form cams so that as the clutch member is carried by the arm 20 of the chute into engagement with the pins, these cam edges will ride up on the pin 3% until the notch 31 of the clutch is reached, whereupon, under the action of the spring 35, the notch 31 will engage the pin 30,

as indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 10, thus looking the magazine to the chute for simultaneous movement therewith. p

In the upper or normal position of the chute, the clutch is held out'of engagement with the pin 30 by a roiler38 on the end of a fixed arm 39 fastened to the frame upright 3, Fig. 9. The block 32 carries an arm Ml extending outwardly into position to engage the roller 38 and; on the on a cycle of operation:

last played; and the clutch member 3| is disconnected from the pin 30 of the magazine. As-' suming, now, that the machine is to be started The motor 6 is started and swings the chute downwardly. The magazine remains stationary because the clutch member is disconnected. During this downward movement of the chute, however, the arm 40 rides ofi of the roller 38 and allows the clutch member to swing into position to engage the next lower pin 30 in the series. When the clutch reaches and engages this next lower pin, it looks the magazine to the chute in register with the record in the position corresponding to the engagedpin 30. From this point, the magazine rotates with the chute.

Just before the chute reaches its lowest position, the end 15 of the retaining finger of the record in register with the chute engages the top edge of a tripper arm 46, Figs. 1 and 3, mounted at the foot of the frame upright 3. This causes the retaining finger i2 to swing about its pivot out of engagement with the record and thus release the record. This releasing action is timed to occur just before the outer end of the chute reaches its final low position. The released rec-, ord, on account of theangularity of its position, moves out of the magazine by gravityand travels by the force of its own momentum to the outer end of the chute reaching a position just above azine the ends I5 of the retaining fingers will pass the tripper arm 46 without being operated, simply by pushing the tripper arm aside as they engage it. Fig. 1'7 shows a retaining finger just passing over the top of the tripper arm. The tripper arm has a pin operating in a slot QB in the end of an arm 49 which is fastened to the frame upright to limit the movement of the tripper arm 46.

Having completed its cycle: of operation and returned the record to its original position in the magazine, the machine may be stopped with the chute in its upper position, ready to begin the next cycle of operation. In this normal or starting position, the retaining finger ii, for the record just returned to the magazine, remains in the position to which it was swung when it released the" record. However, on the beginning of the downstroke of the chute for the next cycle of operation, indicated in the diagram Fig. 18, this retaining finger is restored to retaining position in engagement with the edge of the last record returned to the magazine. This is accomplished by an overhanging ledge portion 50 on theinside of the arm 20 of the chute, Figs. 3, 3a, and 18, this ledge engaging -the end E5 of the finger as the chute starts downwardly. This swings the finger to retaining position and its end 85 then rides on of the ledge 5&3. Fig. 18 shows the ledge 50 just passing beyond'the finger after having actuated it.

Referring again to the stage of operation in which the chute is just approaching its lower position in the act of placing the record on the phonograph table C. A transverse shaft .55 is J'ournaled in the side arms cc of the chute and carries a pair of spaced stops which are'positioned just below the level of the guide rails 23 of the chute, as shown more clearly in Figs. 3, a and 5, so that the moving record will pass over these stops on the way to the playing position. However, the outer end portions 23' of the guide rails are lower than the remaining supporting surfaces of said guide rails, being cut away beginning at the shoulders 51, Figs. 3 and 5, so that when the record reaches the outer end of the chute in position over the phonograph table, it rides off of these shoulders and drops onto the lower end portions 23'. This places the record inJine with Y the stops 56 to preventnthe record from moving in a reverse direction in the chute. The stops, as

' will later appear, hold the record in the outer portion of the chute duringthe restoring or. up-

. ward movement of the chute until said stops are actuated to release the record.

Mounted on the cross member 2! of the chute is a bumper arm 60. This arm is pivoted at one end BI and its other end is connected to the cross member by the spring 62, which spring yieldingly urges the bumper arm toward the record.

The bumper arm has a cushion 63 lying in the plane of the record, against wnichcushion the forward edge of the record strikes. The momentum acquired by the record when being discharged by gravity from the magazine is sufiicient to tend to carry the record beyond the outer end of the chute, but the bumper arm 68 acts as a stop to prevent this outward movement. The shock of the record striking the bumper is yieldingly absorbed by the spring 52. The momentum of the record is, however, 'sufllcient to swing the bumper arm 60 outward to some extent, allowing the record to slightly override its playing position, but the spring 62 immediately takes up this overriding movement by moving the record in the reverse direction. Since by this time "the record has dropped onto the depressed portion 23 of the guide rails, it will be movedin this and stops, as just described, takes place slightly before the chute reaches its lowermost position and while the record is-still slightly above the end of the centering pin --l6 of the phonograph table.

The stops 56 are'spaced from the centering pin a distance slightly greater than the radius of the record, so that when the record is clamped between the bumper arms and the stops 56 its central hole I? is not quite centered with respect to the pin IE, but the pin I6 is tapered to a. point, and, as the point of the pin enters the hole ll of the record, the taper on the pin serves as a cam to force the record slightly away from the stops 56. Hence, when the record reaches its resting position on the phonograph table, it will be centered with respect to said table. The downward movement of the chuta however, continues a slight distance farther so that the stops 56 are actually carried below the plane of the record as the record rests on the phonograph table, thereby clearing the record so that the stop; will not drag and retard its rotation. The slight cam action by the taper pin I6 is suflicient to move the record out of the vertical path of the stops, so that when the chute again starts upwardly the stops 56 will be carried upwardly again into the path of the record just prior to the lifting of the record off of the phonograph table.

During the final downward movement of the chute, just about at the instant the record is centered in position on the phonograph table, the free end of the bumper arm Silengages a curved upstanding cam member 65 fixed on the frame of the machine. This cam member forces the bumper arm outwardly against the tension of spring '62, disengaging the bumper arm from the edge of the record so that it will not drag on the record during the playing operation. On the up ward movement of the chute, the bumper arm rides off the cam member 65, again engaging the edges of the record and clamping the record between itself and the stops 5G. The record is thus retained in the outer endv portion of the chute until the chute approaches its upper position, at which point the shaft 55 is rotated to release the record from the stops so that it can return to its position in the magazine.

The shaft 55 has at one end an arm 66 which is pivotally connected by a link 51 to one arm of a lever 68. This lever is pivoted at 69c on the arm 20 of the chute adjacent the main shaft 2, Figs. 1, 3, 4 and 5. The other arm of the lever $5 is adapted to engage a fixed member 69 which stands in its path and which is mounted on the frame upright 2. These parts are so proportioned that the lever 68 will be swung about its pivot by the member 69 just as the chute reaches its upper or normal position, and through the medium of the link 67 rotates the shaft 55 to release the record for its return movement. The release of the record is accomplished by two fingers 10 mounted on theshaft 55 and extending beneath the record. As the shaft 55 is rotated, the fingers raise the-record above the shoulders 5'! to the level of the guiderails 23, and also above the stops 58., The record is thus free to start moving by bumper 88 follows the record on retum havebeen turnedsuillciently .to render them -movement until it strikes a fixed stop 1|, r the cross member 2|, against which it is yiel gly held by the spring 62 ready to be engaged by the .next record on the next cycle ofoperation.

The reproducer E is carried by an arm D which is pivoted on a vertical axis in a bracket." fastened to the rear arm 28 of the chute, Figs. 12, 13

and 14. This arm Dextendsvertically upward.

from; its pivotal connection to a point above' the chute and then extends horizontally over the record. The arm can swing in a plane parallel to the record in the outer end of the guide chute. At the free end of the arm D is another arm D-l which is pivoted at 18 to the end of the arm D to swing in a vertical plane whereby thereproducing device can be raised and lowered with respectto the record. The outer end of this outer arm D-I. carries the reproducing device E. This reproducing device E has a needle 11 which travels in the grooves in the face of therecord in the usual manner. The reproducer E maybe of any well known type for the purpose; that which is shown in the drawings is intended to be of the type which is electrically connected to the suitable loud speaker. d

The reproduder is lowered into or raised out of engagement with the face of the record at'the proper stages in thecycle of operation. The arm D carries a. lever [8 which "is pivoted at 18 to swing in a plane parallel to the plane of pivotal movement of the arm DI. The short arm of this lever 18 extends toward the arm D! and its'end 88 is tumed' beneath said arm D-l to engage and swing said arm about its pivot. The long arm .of the lever 18 extends beyond the reproducer arm D and carries a-r'oller 8| at its end which engages a fixed stop 82 mounted on a frame *5, Big. 2. A spring 88, connected between the vertical portion of the arm D and the lever 18, Fig. 12, normally pulls downwardly on the :lever 18 to swing the reproducer upwardly away from the record. On-the downward movement of the chute, :lus as the record is being placed on the table and centered in position, the roller end 8| of the lever engages the stop member 82 and swings the lever on its pivot against the tension of the spring 83. This lowers the arm D- I and reproducer E to rest the needle 11 on the record. The end 88 of the arm 18 leaves the arm'Dl a slight distance so as to be entirely clear thereof and not interfere with the slight movements of the repro- 82 is of considerable length to allow fortheswi'ng ing of the arm D about'its vertical pivot.

In the standard types of records, the playing operation starts adjacent the oouter edge of the record and finishes addacent the center of the record. The reproducerjin following the grooves in the record moves across the face of the record from the outer edge to the inner end thereof, and the arm D is swung on-its vertical pivot accordingly. When the chute swings upwardly, the. pivotal axis of the arm D is gradually turned at an angleto the vertical, and by the time the chute and reproducer subject to the action of gravity, and the arm will be thus swung by gravity on its pivotal axis to aposition corresponding to. the

. outer edge of the record. This position is determined by an adjustable limit stop 84 mounted on a bracket on the arm 28, of the chute, Fig. and adapted to engage the vertical portion or the j in full lines in Fig. 5. Thus, the reproducer is restored to starting position-after each playing operation by the action of gravity.

The swinging of the reproducer armfrom startf ing position to stopping position, andvice versa, l

is utilized tooperate switch mechanism for starting and stopping the motor 8 at the proper time. On the rear-side ofthe frame of the machine is -a suitable switch base 85 having an elongated and curved electrical contact 86. A switch lever 81 is also mounted on this base. This switch lever is pivotally related to "a block 88 by means of the pivot bolt 88, and the block 88 is pivotally mounted on the base 85 by means of the pivot bolt 88, the axis of which is disposed at right angles to the axis of thepivot bolt 88. The. switch lever 81 thus has two pivotal movements,

namely, a. vertical swinging movement on the pivot bolt 88 to raise and lower its contact! with respect to the fixed contact 88, and a horizontal swinging movement about the vertical pivot 88, as shown in Figs; 12, 13 and 14. The

lower end of the vertical portion of the arm D has an arm extension 82 which swings, with said arm D, about the pivotal axis of said arm D.

The switch lever 81 has a small overhangingv clip or ear 88, and the end of the extension 82 likewise has a similar overhangin'g'ear- 94. On the base 88, beneath the lever 81, is an upstandingcam ,or finclined member 85,. on which the lever 81 rides and which operates toswing the lever 81 upwardly about its pivot '88 to raise the car 88 above the level of the ear 88. This permits the ear 84 to be swung into a position beneath the ear 88. This ear 84 is swung to this position by the movement of the reproducer arm D as said arnris swung upon its vertical axis by theaction of the needle in following the grooves-of the rec- 0rd. As the needle approaches the. inner ends of' the record groove, the ear, as indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 13, engages the side of the lever 81 and moves this lever about its vertical pivot 8luntil said lever '81 rides down the cam incline 85. This" action continues until the ear 88 rests on top of the ear 84. Due to the eccentric relation between the pivot 88 and. the vertical pivot of the arm D, the ears will have a lateral movement relatively to each other, which movement continues until the car 88 slips off of theiedge of the ear 84 and permits the ear 83 and the switch lever 81-to drop. The switch lever 81 will then be free to slide further down the cam '85 until its contact 8t engages thecontact 88. -'I'his closes'the circuit for the motor 8 and starts the machine in operation to swing the chute upwardly. The-slipping off or di'sen= gagement of the car 88 from the car 84 corresponds to the position which the reproducer reaches when the playing. operation is to be stopped, and the cars 88 and 84 are both mounted reaches its upper position this pivotal axis will by means of pin and slot connections on their respective arms, so that they maybe accurately adjusted to disengage at the proper time.

Standard records are generally provided with either or two typeset grooves in their center.

portions for operating stopping mechanism. In

Fig. 6 these two types oi. grooves are illustrated.

In theupper record in this figure, the groove A-l is known as the spiral type, while the groove A2 in the lower record \is known as the eccentric type. In either type of record, the needle after finishing the playing operation continues in either the spiral or the eccentric groove to swing the arm D still further for the purpose of operating the stopping mechanism. The present structure is adapted to operate in connection with both of these types of records, and the ears 93 and 94 are adjusted so that they disengage accordingly.

The contacts 86 and GI remain in engagement until the chute has been swung to its upper position, and if the switch F, Fig. 20,. remains closed, the motor 6 will continue in operation and swing the chute downwardly on the next cycle of operation. The-rear side of the chute has a-downwardly extending finger 96, Fig. 12, which is adapted to engage the end of a restoring lever 91 pivoted at 98 on the switch base 85. The finger 96 swings the restoring lever 91' into engagement with the free end 01' the switch lever 81, as indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 13, rotating the switch lever 81 about its pivot 90 and causing it to ride up on the cam 95. This lifts the contact SI of! of the contact 86 and opens the circuit for the motor, thereby stopping the mechanism. Engagement of the finger 86 with the restoring lever 91 takes place as the chute approaches its lowermost position. vIn order that this operation maybe timed accurately, the rethe spring I00 connected to the lever and to the switch base 85, thus ppsitioning the restoring lever for the next operation. On the upward movement of the chute, however, the finger 96.

re-engages the end of the restoring lever 91 and swings itin the opposite direction until it passes the end of said lever, but the movement of the lever 91 in this direction is simply for the purpose of allowing the finger 96 to pass it.

The switch F, indicated in Fig. 19, is simply representative of any main switch for controlling the circuit. 11 the switch F is allowed to remain closed, theoperation of the mechanism will be solely under the control of the switch contacts and 9! and the mechanism will operate continuously. 11', however, the switch F is associated with any of the usual or well known types of coin-controlling mechanism, it will be opened when the chute reaches its uppermost .position after each cycle of operation. a

While I have shown one embodiment of .the invention in the drawings, it will be understood that changes may be made in the construction, operation and arrangement'orthe parts, without departing from the spirit of the invention, and

I contemplate such changes as'fairly fall within the scope of the'appended claims. I

I claim:- 1. In a phonograph record feeding mechanism, the combination of a supporting framework with a rotatable record carrier mounted for rotation upon a'horizontal axis, with a turn table for receiving a record to be played, a movable chute and means for operatively securing said chute to said carrier to swing therewith, said turn table dscharging position or being located below the said record carrier, and sai chute extending from said record carrier to said turn table in one posi-- tion of said chute, whereby records may be moved by gravity from said record carrier to said turn table.

2. In a phonograph record feeding mechanism, the cii'inbination gt a supporting framework with a rotatable record carrier mounted for rotation upon a horizontal axis, with a turn table for receiving a record to be played and a movable chute adapted to convey said record from said carrier to said turn table, said turn table being located below the discharging position of 'said record carrier, and said chute extending from said record carrier tosaid turn table inone position of said chute, whereby records may be moved bygravity from said record carrier to said turn table, and means for-moving said chute to an elevated position, means on said chuteadapted to engage a record on the turn tableand elevate it when said chute is elevated, whereby a record removed from said turn table byisaid chute is returned to said record carrier by ravity.

3. In a phonograph record feeding mechanism, the combination of arotary magazine having records disposed radially therein with relation to the axis of rotation of said magazine, a record playing table in substantially parallel relation to said axis of rotation, a movable chute positioned between the magazine and the table movable to different positions and adapted when in one position to direct a record from the magazine to the table and when in another position to direct the record into the magazine, and means for registering the chute with a predetermined record located above the table in said magazine.

4. In a phonograph record feeding mechanism,

the combination of a rotary, magazine having" registering means.

5. In a. phonograph record handling mechanism, the combination of a support with a turn table for supporting a record during play, and a record carrier rotatably mounted on said support, said record carrier having a multiplicity of shouldersior supporting records, and said record carrier supporting predetermined records above the level oi! said turn table, a chute carried by said support and extending from a point adjacent said record carrier to a point adjacent said turn table, said chute comprising guides for slidably engaging the bottom and edges of a record, whereby the record may move by gravity from said record carrier-to said turntable, and means for securing said chute to said carrier to swing therewith.

6. In a phonograph record handling mechanism, the combination of a support with a turn table for supporting a record during play, and a record carrier rotatably mounted on said support, said record carrier having a multiplicity of shoulders for supporting records, and said record carrier supporting predetermined records above the level of said turn table, a chute carried by said support and extending from a point adjacent said record carrier to a point adjacent said turn table, said chute comprising guides for slidably engaging the bottom and edges of a record, whereby the record may move by gravity from said record carrier to said turn table, means for securing saidchute to said carrier to swing therewith, and means actuated by the movement of said chute into record receiving position, to release a record from said carrier to said chute.

7. In a phonograph record handling mechanism, the combination of a support with a turn table for supporting a record during play, a record carrier carried by said support, said record carrier having a multiplicity of shoulders for supporting records, and said record carrier supporting predetermined records above the level of said turn table, a chute carried by said support and extending from a point adjacent said record carrier to a point adjacent said turn table, said chute comprising guides for slidably engaging the bottom and edges of a record, whereby the record may move by gravity from said record carrier to said turn table, means for elevating said chute with a record from said turn table above the plane oia predetermined record supporting shoulder on said carrier, whereby the record is returned by gravity to said record carrier.

8. In a phonograph record handling mechanism, the combination of a support with a turn table for supporting a record during play, and a recordcarrier rotatably mounted on said support, said record carrier having a multiplicity of I shoulders for supporting records, and said record carrier supporting predetermined records above the level of said turn table, a chute carried by said support and extending from a point adjacent said record carrier to a point adjacent said turn table. said chute comprising guides for slidably engaging the bottom and edges of a record, whereby the record may move by gravity from said record carrier to said turn table, a reproducer for said turn table,'means for securing said chute to said carrier to swing therewith, and a reproducer arm for supporting said reproducer, said arm being movably mounted on said chute, whereby said reproducer is returned to init'ial'record starting position by elevation of said chute above said turn table.

9. In a phonograph record feeding mechanism, the combination of a supporting framework with a rotatable record carrier mounted for rotation upon a horizontal axis, with a turn table for receiving a record to be played and a movable chute adapted to convey said record from said carrier to said turn table, said turn table being located below the discharging position of said record carrier, said chute extending from said record carrier to said turn table in one position of said chute, whereby records.

may be moved by gravity from said record carrier to' said turn table, mean sior moving said chute to an elevated position, means on said chute adapted to engage a record on the turn table and elevate it when said chute is elevated whereby arecord removed from said turn table by said chute is returned to said record carrier by gravity, a reproducer above said turn table, said reproducer being mounted upona reproducer, arm pivotally carried by said chute, and

table for supporting a record during play, a

record carrier carried by said support, said record carrier having a multiplicity of shoulders for supporting records, said record carrier supporting predetermined records. above the level of said turn table, a chute carried by said support and extending from a point adjacent said record carrier to a point adjacent said turn table, said chute comprising guides for slidably engaging the bottom and edges of a record, whereby the record may move by gravity from said record carrier to said turn table,'said chute being gradually curved between said record carrier and said turn table to change the direction of the plane of said record from the position of the record in the carrier to that of the turn table.

11. In a phonograph record handling mechanism, the combination of a support with a turn table for supporting a record during play, and a record carrier carried by said support, said record carrier having a multiplicity of shoulders for supporting records, and said record carrier supporting predetermined records above the level of said turn table, a chute carried by said support and extending from a point adjacent said record carrier to a point adjacent said turn table, said chute comprising guides for slidably engaging the bottom and edges of a record, whereby the record may move by gravity from said record carrier to -said turn table. means for gradualy stopping a record above said table at a position beyond that of registry with said turntable and returning it towards said position, andmeans for arresting said record in said position of registry.

12. In a multiple record feeding mechanism for phonograph records, the combination of a horizontally disposed record playing table, a

record "carrier adjacent said table rotatable in a vertical plane and having a plurality of records in radial relation to itsaxis of rotation, a guideway positioned between the carrier and the table and movable in said vertical plane, means for moving the guideway to an angular position relatively to the carrier and table where by a record will move by gravity from the carrier to the table along said guideway; means for changing the angular position of said guideway to lift the record from the table and cause it to move by gravity in thereverse direction along said guideway and toward the carrier, and means for moving the carrier in register with the guideway to receive the record in its original position in the carrier.

13. In a multiple record feeding mechanism for phonograph records, the combination of a horizontally disposed record playing table,a record carrieradjacent said table and rotatable in a vertical plane and having a plurality of records in' radial relation to its axis of rotation, a guideway positioned between the carrier and the table and movable in said vertical plane, means for moving the guideway to an angular position relatively to the carrier and table whereby a record will move by gravity from the carrier to the table along said guideway, means for changing the angular position of said guideway to lift the record from the table and cause it to move by gravity in the reverse direction along said guideway and toward the carrier, means for moving the carrier in register with the guideway to receive the record in its original position in the carrier, a reproducing device cooperable with the record on the table, and driving mechanism for said carrier moving means controlled by the movement of said reproducer.

14. In a multiple record feeding mechanism for phonograph records, the combination of a playing table for the records, a rotarycarrier having a plurality of radial slots for receiving records in radial relation to the axis of rotation of said carrier, holding means for retaining the records in position in said carrier, means actuating said retaining means to release a record from said receiving slots, a rotary chute for directing the released record onto said playing table, means for rotating said chute to lift the record from the playing table and elevate it to a point where it will move by gravity along said chute, and means for maintaining the carrier in register with said chute to receive the record in its original position.

15. The combination of a rotary magazine, a guide chute rotatable about the axis of said magazine in which chute the records/travel by gravity, means for positioning the chute relatively to the magazine to direct the moving record into playing position on a turn table, and means for releasing the record from the magazine when the chute is in position.

16. The combination of a rotary magazine, a guide chute in which the records travel by gravity, means for positioning the chute relatively to the magazine to direct the moving record into playing position on a turn table, means for releasing the record from the magazine when the chute is in position, means for elevating the chute to reverse the direction of travel of the record therein by gravity, and means for retaining the record in the chute until it reaches its elevated position.-

17. The combination of a rotary magazine, a guide chute in which the records travelby gravity, means for positioning the chute relatively to the magazine to direct the moving record into playing position on a turn table, means for releasing the record from the magazine when the chute is in position, means for elevating the chute to reverse the direction of travel oi the .record therein by gravity, means for retaining the record in the chute until it reaches its elevated position, and means for registering the chute and magazine in both positions of the chute so that the record returns to its original position in the magazine.

18. The combination of a multiple record magazine rotatable in a vertical plane and having the individual records disposed therein in radial relation, a guide chute rotatable in the plane of the magazine about the axis thereof, saidchute being movable to different positions whereby a record will travel therein by gravity, means for discharging a record into the chute from the magazine when the chute is in position to-direct the record into playing position on a playing table, and means for releasing the record in the chute upon the arrival of the chute in a position to direct themoving record into the magazine.

19. The combination of a rotary record playing table, means for removing a played record from said table,- a reproducing device movable across the face of the record, a pivotally mounted switch arm for controlling said means, a member eccentrically pivoted relative to said arm and adapted to engage said arm to hold it out of operative position, and means operatively connecting said member to the reproducing device to cause it to move progressively as the reproducing device moves over the record being played, the relative I across the face of the record,'a pivotally mounted switch arm for controlling said means, a member eccentrically pivoted relative to said arm and adapted to engage said arm to hold it out of operative position, means operatively connecting said member to the reproducing device to cause it to move progressively as the repr'oduc-. ing device moves over the record being played,

the relative mounting of said arm and member being such that the arm is released when thereproducing device reaches a predetermined position on the face of the-record, andmeans for restoring said switch arm to inoperative position.

JOHN A. man. 

